Made In Rwanda Expo: Singer Tom Close Exhibits New Talent

Afrobeat singer and medical doctor, Tom Close real name Thomas Muyombo is currently showcasing his other gift on top of treating patients and entertainment.

Tom Close has kicked-off reading culture campaigns through writing of short story books for children.

Close is exhibiting his books containing short and interesting tales for children during the ongoing Made in Rwanda expo that kicked-off November 28 at Gikondo Expo Grounds, Kicukiro district, Kigali City.

His books that are designed for pre-school and primary school, include; Domestic Animals, the books that introduces animals to children.

The multi-talented Tom Close also wrote Ana Umukobwa wintangarugero (Ana, the exemplary girl), a book that tells the story of Ana, a diligent, polite girl, Zaza n’inyoni nini (Zaza and the big bird), a fiction story.

Close works on this project with his wife, Ange Tricia Niyonshuti.

They use local materials to do the drawings and to write the small texts including; papers and pencils. Some colors are however imported from UK and Germany.

Prices for books in the Expo ranges from Rwf1500 to Rwf2600.

“I had passion for writing books before even music. When I got my first child I decided to write and design some short stories to help her. However, I realized that many children need to improve their reading culture and I shifted to mass production,” Close said.

The books, written in Kinyarwanda, have illustrations that focus on the Rwandan values to help children grow with that knowledge.

Other exhibitors

Among other exhibitors at the ongoing ‘Made in Rwanda’ expo is a local fishing boat produced by Dolphin Industries Limited in Bugesera district, Eastern Province.

The company uses fiberglass to produce swimming pools, marine boats, individual boats, fountains, doors, tables, chairs, kiosks, among others. However, they also use local materials like wood and paint.